Contractor killed by backhoe in Bergen County

A self-employed contractor operating a backhoe on the outside of a Bergen County house was killed this afternoon when the machine's arm and bucket fell back and pinned him in the seat, police said.

The 44-year-old Palisades Park resident was working on a concrete stairway in the rear of a Day Avenue house in Ridgefield when the accident occurred, Capt. Rich Besser said.

It was not clear why the four-wheel self-propelled backhoe malfunctioned, Besser added.

Three others employed by the contractor were at the job when the accident occurred at about 3:40 p.m., and at least one of those workers witnessed it, Besser said. It was not known if the homeowner was at home.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities were withholding the man's name pending notification of relatives.